I'm looking at tapping into an existing drain line at the vertical vent, which I understand should be via a horizontal run to a sanitary tee. The vent is 2 inch PVC; the horizontal piece I will install is 2 inch PVC.
But what makes a tee "sanitary?" Everything I can find emphasizes the correct usage of tees vs. wyes instead. Fair enough, but how can I recognize the correct tee?
Specifically, I think I grabbed an equal tee(?) instead — how can I recognize whether I have the right part?
A sanitary tee has a subtle curve down, I suppose in hopes of keeping your waste going in the right direction.
A sanitary tee has a curved center section to allow smoother, more efficient liquid flow. In drainage systems, it is primarily used to connect horizontal drains to vertical drains. The center connection is usually to the pipe leading to a trap. Sanitary tees should not be used to connect a vertical drain to a horizontal drain because of the likelihood that solids will build up at the bottom of the junction and cause a blockage.
Three Different Uses of Sanitary Tees
- Sanitary tees can be used to join a horizontal line. For example, to join waste arms to vent stacks or vertical risers.
- In some cases, a sanitary tee can also be used in place of a vent tee when plumbing vent lines. It helps to maintain the proper flow.
- When installing sanitary tees, do not place them with the backside up and the side open because this will cause waste to splash upstream when it hits the bottom of the horizontal pipe. This will eventually cause blockages in the pipeline.
